4 bulb T5 fixture on a budget

My wife wants to get me new lights for my 26 gal tank (21 inches tall) for xmas. We set $200 dollar limits on each others gifts so I don't want to pass that. I'm sure she wouldn't mind going a little higher, but I really don't want to take advantage of the fact that she is letting me pick my gift out.

With that said, here are my options with pros and cons that I can think of each. I would love any input or opinions you guys may have, especially owners of any of these fixtures. I have LPS and softies in my tank and I will be using ATI bulbs in the new fixture.

1) Wave-Point - $178 shipped
Pros: Individual reflectors
Cons: One plug, so everything is all on or all off. No fan(s).

2) Coralife - $168 shipped
Pros: Has a fan, moonlights, more than one power switch
Cons: No individual reflectors

3) Fishneedit.com fixture - $112 shipped
Pros: The price!, made of aluminum(maybe more durable?), 2 switches
Cons: No idea on reflectors, doubt individual, no fan

 

I vote fishneedit.

 

Aquatraders - Guaranteed Best Prices on Aquarium Lightings + Free Shipping!

 

My order of preference is how you have them listed. I believe you have them listed by overall quality in the proper order also. The individual reflector is the most important difference in the group.

 

sell ya my ebay special 260 watt system for $50 plus actual shipping costs! getting led's next week! 1 month old!

 

Gotta go with the AquaticLife 4x24w t5ho. It's what I'm running on my 26g bowfront. Digital control timer for all lights-plugged it in and haven't had to touch it since. Love this fixture!

 

I would totally buy your fixture Cosmo except I need a 24 inch one

And nana, after tax, the aquatic life comes out to just below $300. Looking to spend no more than $200 total.

If I do go with the wave point, is having everything on one timer such a big deal? Does marine life really need the artificial dawn/dusk lighting we try to create? Or will instantly on and instantly off mess with them psychologically? Guess that opens a whole other can of worms.

 

One timer will cause no issues.

 

If you absolutely can not go over that budget I would choose the Wavepoint from your list.

However, I would really try to get the superior fixture the first time, like the AquaticLife, rather than buy what you can afford at the moment & regret adding that extra few $. Speaking from experience, as many can, I bought what I could "afford" many times in the hobby and ALWAYS ended up regretting it and buying what I should have initially. In the end I wasted more $ since what I could afford could not be sold for much after the fact.

FYI if you buy the AquaticLife 4-bulb 24" fixture from BigAlsOnline you should be able to get a 10% discount (for 3reef), free shipping, no tax, that puts it at about $243, so for $43 extra it's an absolute no brainer IMO: http://www.bigalspets.com/4X24W-Lig...textbin=Aquatic Life&searchRank=relevancerank

You cannot beat the value of the AquaticLife with the built-in timer (which does have the dawn/dusk cycle + moonlights for nighttime viewing), solid reflectors & it comes with bulbs to start you off. Down the line you can replace those stock bulbs with some ATI's and get optimal performance out of the fixture.

You can PM BigAls on here and I'm sure they will hook you up, I forget the coupon code, maybe BACK10 or something like that.

 

I had a 36" fishneedit unit. Great light for the price. Ballasts are remote. Definitely consider this one.